#6YouMustFix: Tell Fort Worth City Council to postpone or vote 'no,' August 4th, on the proposed Meet & Confer Agreement between the city and the Fort Worth Police Officers Association, until the six changes below are made. We thank them for continuing the vote from June and giving the community more time to evaluate the contract's contents, but choosing to vote 'yes' on this agreement, as is, continues to put the lives of our community, especially Black, Brown, and other over-policed members who are most directly impacted by policing, in danger, and it continues a long tradition of local government being complicit in relieving police of the transparency that is needed to hold them accountable when they cause harm.

1) Eliminate the rule that gives officers who are accused of misconduct, 48 hours notice before they can be interviewed, and that allows them to see all witness statements and evidence in advance of that interview. Atatiana Jefferson's murderer, Aaron Dean, was allowed to quietly resign, and thereby avoid ever being investigated by Internal Affairs due to this clause. Article 7.

2) No raises for bad cops. Bad cops should not get the same raises (if any,) that good cops get. In the proposed agreement, all police get the same yearly raise, no matter their performance or disciplinary record. Police are public servants whose salaries are paid by the communities that they agree to serve. If they have complaints filed against them and performance issues, they should not be rewarded with more money. No more across the board pay raises. Make raises proportional to performance, conduct and complaints. Appendix C.

3) Create a $1000 mental health incentive for officers, and include an additional $500 incentive for officers of color who are disproportionately impacted by systemic racism as a result of unjust police practices. Police currently have a physical health incentive. They should have one for mental health as well. Article 14, Sec 4.

4) Allow the department to investigate — and discipline — officers for serious offenses beyond 180 days after the date of the alleged misconduct. There should be no statute of limitations on alleged officer misconduct. Article 7, Sec 5H.

5) Amend the meet and confer agreement to confirm that complaints received anonymously, online, by mail, and/or telephone, by the police department and/or the independent police monitor will be deemed “official complaints” in accordance with Texas Local Government Code Chapter 143 that references “investigations of a police officer” and the requirement for those complaints to be written and under oath. By deeming these complaints as “official,” they will be tracked and recorded for the purposes of (1) triggering an official investigation, (2) follow-up and resolution, and (3) for use in statistical data and reporting required by law relating to racial profiling, use of force, and any other applicable data requirements.  

6) Disciplinary records, including written reprimands, suspensions, demotions, and indefinite suspensions must be made public.  We cannot hold officers accountable, or create deterrents for and avoid continued harm in our communities, if these records are hidden from the public. Article 7.